Democratic Representative Maxine Waters, whose district covers Los Angeles, made headlines Friday during an interview on NewsNation by insisting she is not “playing politics” amid the devastating wildfires ravaging the region. Waters, a multimillionaire herself, argued that increased taxation on wealthy individuals is necessary to fund the costly services required to fight such disasters.

Speaking with host Chris Cuomo, Waters acknowledged the high price tag associated with emergency response efforts but defended her call to ask the nation’s richest citizens to pay more in taxes to support these services. This came despite the fact that California already has some of the highest tax rates in the country, and residents of Los Angeles face significant financial burdens.

Waters began by rejecting political blame, stating, “I’m not into the blame game. I’m not here to speculate whether Gov. Gavin Newsom is positioning himself for a presidential run. None of that matters right now.”

She stressed the practical reality: “The first thing we have to understand is that services cost money. We should be willing to make sure the richest 1%—those who have been protected from paying their fair share—are contributing adequately, so we have the resources to provide the necessary services.”

Waters continued, emphasizing bipartisan responsibility: “Once we have the money, the people elected or appointed to do the job must fulfill their duties. I don’t care if they are Democrats, Republicans, or from any other party. Right now, our hearts should be heavy with the pain of this crisis, but we must have faith and focus on helping those who need us.”

She concluded firmly, “Politics can come later. We can debate Gavin Newsom or the Democrats after we’ve done what’s needed to support the people.”

Despite Waters’ call, IRS data shows that the top 1% of income earners already pay nearly 41% of federal income taxes. When combined, the top 5% of earners contribute more than 65% of federal income taxes, the top 10% pay about 75%, and the wealthiest 25% shoulder nearly 89% of the tax burden. Meanwhile, the bottom half of earners—those making under $46,627 a year—pay only about 2% of federal income taxes.

Amid these debates, criticism has mounted against California’s leadership for their handling of the wildfire crisis. Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a former U.S. congresswoman, have faced accusations that mismanagement and delayed responses worsened the destruction and loss of life.

In the wake of growing scrutiny, Vice President-elect JD Vance weighed in during a Sunday interview, addressing rumors about whether the incoming administration planned to withhold federal emergency wildfire aid. During a conversation with anchor Shannon Bream, Vance clarified that there was no intent to deny necessary funds.

President Donald Trump had previously stated, “We won’t give him money to put out all his fires. And if we don’t give him the money to put out his fires, he’s got problems.” When asked if Trump intended to follow through on that remark, Vance responded with a message of inclusion and concern: “President Trump cares about all Americans. He is the president for every citizen in this country. The goal is to ensure that FEMA and other federal agencies respond more efficiently and are better coordinated on the ground.”

Vance also commented on Newsom’s invitation for Trump to visit California, saying, “I know the president would love to visit the state. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by these natural disasters.”

He reflected on the broader impact of the wildfires and other natural disasters, noting, “Regardless of political beliefs, it’s difficult to watch those heartbreaking images and not feel sorrow for our fellow Americans facing such hardship.”

The Vice President-elect acknowledged the need for improved federal disaster relief efforts, stating, “President Trump is committed to enhancing our response to emergencies, whether it’s wildfires in California or hurricanes and floods in North Carolina. We must do a better job and ensure competent governance.”

Vance also noted that the president retains the right to criticize Newsom’s past decisions, adding, “There have been some very poor choices made over a long period, and that deserves scrutiny.”

This ongoing dialogue underscores the deep political tensions entwined with the wildfire crisis in California. While Waters calls for higher taxes on the wealthy to fund emergency services, others point to leadership failures and the importance of efficient use of federal aid. The debate continues as Californians and the nation grapple with the devastating impact of the fires and the urgent need for effective solutions.